The present investigation is focused on exploring the possibilities of identifying biomolecules from the fruiting body of the medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum against the mango anthracnose pathogen Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. The fruiting body (cap and stipe portion) of G. lucidum extracted with ethyl acetate solvent at a maximum inhibitory concentration of 1 percent exhibited the maximum mycelial growth inhibition of C. gloeosporioides with 70.10 percent and 40.77 percent, respectively. Furthermore, subjecting the ethyl acetate extracts from the cap portion of G. lucidum through thin layer chromatography (TLC) revealed the presence of two bands with Rf values of 0.38 and 0.35. The compounds eluted from band 1 recorded with the maximum mycelial growth inhibition of C. gloeosporioides by 53.77 percent followed by band 2 (46.33 percent) using an agar well diffusion test. Similarly, the analysis of ethyl acetate extracts from the cap portion of G. lucidum through Gas Chromatography-Mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) revealed the presence of the organoheterocyclic compound benzothiazole, as expressed in the highest peak area at 22.03 RT with the highest probability percentage (97%). Confirmation of the antifungal nature of benzothiazole was obtained by testing the standard sample of benzothiazole which showed a cent percent of inhibition on mycelial growth of C. gloeosporioides at 50 ppm minimum fungicidal concentration. Furthermore, benzothiazole caused abnormality in the mycelial structures, viz., distortion, shrinkage, clumping of mycelium, conidial malformation, and complete arrestment of conidial germination of C. gloeosporioides as observed through Scanning Electron Microscopy. The research on biomolecular extract of G. lucidum could be a novel and interesting concept for the possibility in suppression of plant pathogenic microbes in the natural field.

Trichoderma, a prominent genus of fungi within the Hypocreales order, is widely used in agriculture due to its effectiveness in managing phytopathogens and insect pests. sect pests. Furthermore, Trichoderma species improve soil fertility and structure, playing a vital role in overall ecosystem health. The capacity of certain species to control specific insect pests makes them an important part of integrated pest management approaches. This review provides a comprehensive overview of Trichoderma spp.'s biological potential and its mechanisms for controlling phytopathogens and insect pests. Known for their mycoparasitic, biocontrol, and plant growth-promoting properties, Trichoderma species can suppress a broad spectrum of insect pests through several mechanisms. This review explores the specific strategies Trichoderma employs in pest management, including the production of secondary metabolites, competition for resources, and disruption of pest life cycles. It also looks at how well Trichoderma-based biocontrol agents work with other biological control methods. This is done to highlight the potential for integrated pest management (IPM) strategies that better get rid of pests while having less of an effect on the environment. Beyond their direct effects on insect pests, Trichoderma species are also beneficial for plant health and growth. This review addresses how Trichoderma improves plant resilience, potentially lowering crop vulnerability to insect infestations. In addition, the use of biocontrol agents underscores their promise in sustainable agriculture by minimizing the need for chemical pesticides and supporting eco-friendly farming methods to develop new and innovative solutions.

Background: Volatilomes from natural plants and microbes imparts diverse antifungal properties to suppress the growth of plant pathogens and therefore can be a suitable alternative of chemical fungicides. The present experiment was to study effect of volatiles produced by natural plants and microbes on the fungal growth of Pythium aphanidermatum, which is a tomato seedling pathogen. Results: Isolate of P. aphanidermatum, causing damping off in tomato were isolated and incubated at 25 ± 2 °C. The isolate was tested for the anti-oomycetes activities of volatiles in vitro. The volatiles produced by the leaves of Mentha spicata and Cymbopogon citratus showed the maximum inhibitory effect of 45.56 and 24.70 percent, respectively on the mycelial growth of P. aphanidermatum, whereas, the pathogen was not inhibited on exposure to the volatiles of macro-basidiomycetes fungi. The volatiles of T. asperellum showed the maximum inhibitory effect of 69.26 percent against P. aphanidermatum. The study also included the identification of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) involved in the suppression of pathogens by Headspace Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (HS GCMS). The results revealed the production of carvone by the leaves of M. spicata; citronellol and geraniol by C. citratus; isopentyl alcohol and limonene by T. asperellum with increased peak area percentage and these compounds possessed antifungal properties. The vaporous action of isopentyl alcohol completely suppressed the mycelial growth of P. aphanidermatum, which is highly correlated to the T. asperellum extract on pathogenic growth. While the compounds, carvone, and citronellol showed the maximum inhibitory effect of 89.02 and 85.49 percent, respectively when used at 500 ppm and also altered the sporulation behavior of P. aphanidermatum. Conclusion: Results showed that volatiles of M. spicata and T. asperellum have anti-oomycetes action on pathogenic growth leading to a distortion of sporulation of P. aphanidermatum. High antifungal properties make VOCs suitable for incorporation as a new integrated plant disease management programs.

In this study, the volatilomes of naturally growing plant leaves were immobilized in a suitable substrate to enhance vapors’ diffusion in the soil to eradicate the Fusarium wilt pathogens in Tomato. Volatilomes produced by Mentha spicata leaves immobilized in vermiculite ball was found to be effective and exhibit 92.35 percent inhibition on the mycelial growth of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (FOL). Moreover, the volatilomes of M. spicata immobilized vermiculite balls were tested based on the distance traveled by the diffused volatilomes from the ball and revealed that the volatilomes of M. spicata traveled up to 20 cm distance from the center of PVC (Polyvinly chloride) chamber showed maximum reduction in colony growth of FOL at 12th day after inoculation. Tomato plants inoculated with FOL revealed increased expressions of defense gene, pathogenesis related protein (PR1) with 2.63-fold after 72 h and the gene, transcription factor (WRKY) increased with 2.5-fold after 48 h on exposure to the volatilomes of M. spicata vermiculite balls. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on development of volatilomes based vermiculite ball formulations. This result indicated that the volatilomes of M. spicata are promising phyto-fumigants for management of Tomato Fusarial wilt.

Mushrooms are low-calorie foods with a high content of proteins, vitamins B and D, minerals, carbohydrates and fibers (1). Many researchers have shown that edible mushrooms contain numerous bioactive compounds with multiple health-promoting effects such as antiulcer, antioxidant, antiviral, anticancer, antibacterial, hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory antitumor, anticholesterol, anti-inflammatory and antihaemorrhagic effects (2). There arises a pressing need to tap into the potential of medicinal mushrooms like L. squarrosulus which has ethnomedicinal values and are used in treating anaemia, ulcer, fever, cough, infertility and fungal infections, as well as to reduce the risk of metabolic diseases (3-5). Global multidrug resistance calls for a search for new potential lead compounds as therapeutic agents. Many macromycos still remain understudied as sources of bioactive compounds. Further investigation of bioactive components found in L. squarrosulus, will be informative regarding the biological activity of the organisms as medicinal agents. The ethanol extract of the ethnomedicinal macromycos L. Squarrosulus was subjected to GC-MS analysis for bioactive compounds among these thirteen compounds of hits were achieved with bioactive compounds in the ethnomedicinal macromycos. Of these compounds (2E)-Dodec-2-en-1-yl methyl ether (13.95%) formed the largest number while 1,2-15,16-Diepoxyhexadecane (9.03%) constituted the next high number of such compounds. Other amino acids, fatty acids, ethyl esters and other compounds identified included 2-Methyl-4-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-4-oxo-2-butenoic acid (2.12%), L-Alanine, N-L-alanyl- (0.94%), Benzofuran, 3-methyl- (1.63%), Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (3.75%) and 2'-Hydroxy-à-naphthoflavone (2.53%). Some of these compounds have antioxidant, hepatoprotective, hypocholesterolemic, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiarthritic, anticoronary and immune suppression as well as cancer preventive activities. The present study has identified bioactive components with therapeutic potential in L. squarrosulus; it forms a basis for screening, isolating and identifying various bioactive compounds which may be valuable in treating a wide range of ailments, disorders and diseases soon.